RAPESEED-MUSTARD AGRONOMY PRACTICE

Yield Gap Analysis

The Rapeseed-Mustard (R&M) Group Is Confined To Rabi Season And Is Largely Grown In Rajasthan, MP, UP, Haryana, Gujarat And West Bengal. The R&M Group Of Crops Is Cultivated On 6.1 Million Ha Producing 7.1 Million Tons With Average Yield Levels Of 11.70 Q/Ha For The QE 2015-16. The Productivity Varies From 3.0 Q/Ha In Maharashtra To 10.0 Q/Ha In West Bengal To 12.87 Q/Ha In Punjab. Around 50 Per Cent Of The Area Receives Minimal Irrigation During The Crop Growth Stage, While The Remaining 50 Per Cent Depends Upon Residual Moisture Conditions, And Hence There Are Variations In The Productivity Across Regions. Mustard Saw Fly, Aphids, Thrips, Powdery Mildew And Rust Are Major Biotic Stresses.

State

No. Offlds

Seed Yieldin IT(Kg/Ha)

SAY *(Kg/Ha)

% Increaseover SAY

NAY**(Kg/Ha)

WAY***(Kg/Ha)

Assam

30

1203

607

98.2

 

 

Bihar

47

2391

1105

116.4

 

 

Himachal Pradesh

61

1193

541

120.543.2

 

 

Jammu & Kashmir

87

1273

833

51.9

 

 

Jharkhand

30

1021

672

51.9

1170     1958

 

Madhya Pradesh

20

2245

1110

102.3

 

 

Maharashtra

20

665

300

121.7

 

 

Punjab

125

1866

1287

45.0

 

 

Rajasthan

209

1878

1225

53.3

 

 

Uttar Pradesh

100

1826

1127

62.0

 

 

Uttarakhand

34

1597

816

95.7

 

 

West Bengal

21

1400

1027

36.3

 

 

Total/Mean

784

1675

1170

 

 

 

·       By Adopting Improved Technology, The Productivity Of Rapeseed – Mustard Can Be Raised TO 1.0 To 2.4t/Ha In General.

·       Maharashtra With Lowest Productivity Of 665kg/Ha May Defy This HOPE.

·       However, The Yield Gap Ranges From 45 Per Cent (Punjab) To 122 Per Cent (Maharashtra) With An Average Yield Gap Of 43 Per Cent

·       Bihar, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, MP And Uttarakhand Are Important States For Technological Intervention To Improve Mustard Yield Significantly.

Sowing Time:

·       An Average Day And Night Temperature Of 250 C Is Considered Optimum For Sowing. From August End To First Half Of September Is Best For Sowing Of Toria, 25th September To 15th   October For Sarson, 30th September To 15th October For Mustard.

Soil:

·       The Crop Requires Longer Cool Temperature. Mustard Could Be Successfully Grown Under Wide Range Of Soils Including Saline/Alkaline, Low Irrigated And Paddy Fallows In Eastern India.

Seed Rate:

·       The Normal Seed Rate Used For Sowing Of R&M Is 4-5 Kg/Ha.3

Seed Treatment:

·       Seed Treatment With Apron SD 35 @ 6 G/Kg Of Seed Is Advised For White Rust And Downy Mildew Endemic Areas. For Other Seedling Diseases, Seed Treatment With Carbendazim, Thiram Or Captan @ 2 G/Kg Of Seed Is Recommended.

Method Of Sowing:

·       Line Sowing With Row-To-Row Distance Of 30 Cm And Plant-To-Plant Distance Of 10-15 Cm. Use Of Ridge-Furrow Technique Is Beneficial In Saline Areas. Thinning Is Necessary After Three Weeks Of Sowing For Maintaining Optimum Plant Population.

Nutrient Management:

·       Integrated Nutrient Management With 40 Kg N Per Ha For Rainfed Situations And 40-80 Kg Of N Per Ha Under Irrigated Situations Is Recommended.

Weed Management:

·       Clean Cultivation With Regular Weeding Is Recommended.

Water Management:

·       Two Irrigation For Mustard One At 20-30 Days After Sowing (DAS) And Another At Siliqua Formation Stage (50-60 DAS).

·       B. Use Of Ridge & Furrow Technique Is Beneficial In Saline Area And For Moisture Conservation.

Harvesting:

·       Harvesting As Soon As The Crop Begins To Turn Yellow, Threshing Mechanically And Storing At The Moisture Content Of Less Than 8% Is Suggested.

Yield:

·       Rainfed Condition – 800-1500 Kg/Ha

·       B. Irrigated Condition – 2000-2500 Kg/Ha